County gets Sh1.1b for emergency response

The Nairobi County government fire department received a boost of Sh1.1 billion from the Belgium government in efforts to improve the city’s disaster management.

The funds will help in the construction of two ultra-model fire stations in Kabete and Jamhuri, supply of four firefighting engines, four ambulances, six water tenders and 32-metre turntable ladder and training of county staff.

The money — half grant and half loan — will see the fire department benefit in terms of rescue during disaster outbreak in the county.

Speaking during the marking of King`s day at the Belgium embassy — where the county received two ambulances and two firefighting engines — Governor Evans Kidero said that the county had now 26 engines which had been stations in all sub-counties.

“I think the residents of Nairobi should be educated more on how to prevent fire in the county as we are honoured to receive the 26th fire fighting machine from Belgium,” said Dr Kidero.

Dr Kidero said that three officers from the fire department will be travelling to Brussels for training where in return they will train the rest in the county.

The county has also advertised 100 firefighting officers to apply for jobs at the county in a bid to curb shortage in the department.